Electric safe lock



Ap il 2 1933- H. M. LESCHKE ET AL ELECTRIC SAFE LOCK Filed March 15, 1952 Y m M ED R V m m r KL A HE BS SNK EH Ll R SE NTV. HE HP Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES" PATENT oFFica 4 HANS M. LESCHKE AND PETER J. ANSELMO, OF SAN FRANCISCO, GAILI]?OJRJSIILA.v

ELECTRIC SAFE LOCK This invention relates to improvements 1n locking devices and has particular reference to means for controlling the lock of a safe, vault or other similar storage space. 5 Theprincipal object of this inventlonis to provide means whereby a bolt or bolts are actuated thru electrical means. I

A further object is to provide a sequence which must be actuated in' connecting the the opening operation.

A further object is to provide means for limiting the time within which the operation must be performed. I

A further object is to provide means whereby a bolt may be operated from a remote point.

Other objects and advantages willbe apparent during the course of the following description.

'In the drawing, the figure is a diagrammatic representation of the circuitnecessary to accomplish our object, and showing the same connected to a safe, shown in fragmentary cross-section.

Safes, vaults and like storage spaces are usually protected by locks, ordinarily operated thru the actuation of a permutation lock. These locks may be readily worked bya skilled safe cracker, it merely being a matter of Working out the combination thru repeated trials, and as the combinations are comparatively few, it does not require a great deal of time in order to accomplish the unlocking of a safe of this character.

Applicants have devised an electrically controlled locking system, wherein a plurality of contact arms are moved over a plurality of contacts so as to connect certain of said contacts in definite sequence. This results in the operation of a plurality of circuit relays and also a time controlled device, with a result that these relays must be operated in proper order and within a definite time period, or the entire device will be automatically disconnected and the combination must be again re-worked. Further, by certain 50 connections, these contacts may be so wired various electric circuits in order to perform that should the operator turn the contact arms in thewrong direction, the entire sys: tem will be thrown out ofv operation. It will thus be seen that it will'be' almost 1mpossible for a person to unlock a vault or 55.

safe equipped with our locking system without knowing the combination so that the same may be actuated quickly and beforethe time limit mechanism disconnects the circuit. A further advantage is that as soon as the safe 60. door is opened, the relays all return to their normal position so that if the safeis agaln closed and the contact arms are still on their final opening position,,it would not permit thiscircuit to again be actuated until the entire sequence has again been passed thru. i'

Referring to the drawing, in the figure, the letters A, B, and C designate knobs or handles thru the medium of which arms 5, 6 and 7 respectively may be moved over con tacts radially arranged in alignment with the ends thereof. Numerals have been omitted from these contacts in order to avoid confusion and only certain groups have been designated by the letters P1, P2 andP3, which designate respectively the firstfposition of the arms on the three dials, the second post tion of the arms and the third position ofthe arms. In otherwords there are three dials and three settings ofeach dial in order to effect the opening of the safe; door. Thenumeral 8 designates a safe door in which a solenoid 9 is positioned, which solenoidis adapted to actuate a slidingbolt 11. A sprin 12 normally tends to project the bolt. 'One side of this solenoid is connected by a wire 13 to a contact 14. A similar contact 16 is connected by a wire 17 to one side of a switch 18. Line wires are shown at 19 and 21 where by the switch 18 may connect thereto. The contacts 14 and 16 are secured to the door 8 in such a manner that they engage a connector 23 mounted upon the safe s'o that when the door is swung upon its hinge,'the circuit between the wire 13 and 17 will be broken. The switch 18 is connected by a wire 24 to one side of a time controlled relay 26. The method of time control is immaterial, here shown as a dash pot 30. The opposite side of this relayis connected thru awire 28; to

one side of relays 29 and 31, and also by a wire 32 to an arm 33 of the relay 26, which arm carries a contact 34 adapted to engage a contact 36 electrically connected to the relay 29 and to a contact adapted to be engaged when the relay 29 is operated. A contact 37 is electrically connected by a wire 38 to a wire 39 which is in turn connected to the Wire 13. This wire 39 also connects to one of the contactsat position P1 in the dial A., The relay '31 has its opposite end connected by a wire 41 to a moving contact 42 normally engaged by the relay. This moving contact has connected at 43 a wire .44 which wire is connected to one of the contacts at position P2 of dial C. The contact 46 is so arranged that when the relay 31 is energized, that'the same will be contacted by the moving contact 42,and is electrically connected by a wire 47 to one ofthe contacts P3 of the dial C. A contact48similarly-positioned to that of 46 is connected by a Wire 49 to a wire 51 which wire connects to the wire 52 and to one of .the contactsP2 of the dial A. This wire 51 also connects'to one of the contacts P1 of the dial C andthru a branch connection 53 to the alternately spacedcontacts 54 and 56 of dial C and to alternately spaced contacts 57 and 58 of dials A and B. The wire 51 is also connected by a wire 59 with the contact 32. The final relay 61 has one side thereof connected by a wire 62 to one of the contacts P3 of the dial A, and has its opposite side connected to a contact 63 and to a wire 64, which wire is in turn connected to the wire 24. The contact 66 is connected by a wire 67 with the opposite side of the solenoid 9 to that connected to the wire 13. A wire 68 connects the arm 33 of the relay 26 to the staggered contacts 69 and 71 of-the dial G and to the staggered contacts 72 and 73 of the dials A and B. A wire 74 connects the remaining .contact of the contact P3 of dial A with one of the contacts P3 of dial B. A wire 7.6 connects the other contact P3 of dial B with the remaining contact P3 of dial C. A wire 7 7 extends 'between the remaining contact P2 of dial A and one of the contacts P2 of dial B. A wire 78 connects the remaining contact P2 of dial B with the remaining contact P2 of dial C. A wire 7 9 connects the remaining contact P1 of dial A with one of the contacts Plot dial B. A wire 81connects the remaining contact P1 of dial B with the remaining contact P1 of dial C.

p The result of this construction is, assuming that the vault is locked and that the parts are in the position shown in the figure and thatthe switch 18 is closed, now assume that .a person desires to open the safe, it is first -necessary'to turn'the arms 5, 6, and 7 so that they connect the contacts Pl'of their respective dials. As soon as this occurs, current flows from the wire 21 thru'the wire 24, relay- 26, wire 28, relay 29,-wire 59 to one of the contacts P1 of dial C, thence thru the other contact P1 of this same dial, thence thru wire 81 thru the contact arm 6 to the wire 7 9, thence thru the contact arm 5 to the wire 39 thence thru the wire 13 to the contacts 14, 23, 16 to wire 17 and thru the switch 18 to line wire 19. Thus, the time controlled relay has been set into operation, the relay 29 has been actuated so as to close the contacts 30 and 37. This last closing permits current to flow thru the wire 38 to the wire 39 and back to the opposite side of the line in the manner just described. As soon as this relay 29 has closed this last mentioned circuit, the arms 5, 6 and 7 are moved to position P2with the result that the movement of these arms will-not break the circuit to the relay 29 which will act asa holding relay for the next operation. As soon as the arms 5, 6 and 7 are in position P2, current will flow from the wire .28thru the relay '31, .wire 41, moving contact '42, wire 44 to one of 'the contacts of P2 of dial 'C thence 'thru'arm 7. to the other contact -P2, thence thru wire 7 8 to contact P2 of =dial B and arm '6 thereof, thence thru the other contactP2, thence thru wire 77 to P2 of dial A, arm 5land other contact P2 of this same dial, thence by wires .52 and 51 to wire 59, contact 28, moving contact 30 of the relay 29, contact 37, wire 38, wire 39, :wire 13, contacts 14, 23, 16,-wire 17 to switch 18 and line wire 19. This results in the moving contactof the relay 31 engaging the contacts 46 and '48 of the dials. At the moment the relay 31 is actuated, a holding circuit is established between the moving contact 42 and :the contact 48 so that current flows thru thewire 49 to wire 51, wire 59, contact 28,,moving contact 30, contact 37, wire 38, and back to the opposite side of the line in the manner previously described. The arms 5,6 and 7 of'the dials A, B and C may now be :moved to position P3 with a result thatcurrent will flow from wire 24 thru wire 64, relay 61,'wire 62, contact P3 of dial A, arm '5, other contact P3 of dial A, wire 74, contact P3 of dia l B, arm 6 other contact P3 of dial B, wire 76, contact P3 of dial C, .arm 7, other contact P3 of dialC,'w1re 47 to contact 46. As this relay has been actuated, this contact 42 is now in closed position, andcurrent will flow thru the moving contact 42 to contact'48, thence thru wires 49 'and 59 to contact 30, moving contact 3O (wh ch 15 now in closedposition), thence thru wire 38 to wire 38 and back to the other side of the line in the manner previously described, with a result as-soon as the current flows thru this :last circuit, the final relay 61 is actuated moving the contact "6O into engagement with the contacts 63 and 66, thus establishing a circuit from the wire "64 to the wire67 'and'thrn the solenoid *9 to wire 13, with a result that the bolt 11 will be drawn into 'thelso'l'enoid and'thevault'door unlocked. Assoon as the vault door opens, the contact 23 is moved out of engagement with the contacts 14 and 16, thus breaking the return circuit, and as a consequence, all of the relays will drop to their initial position and cannot again be operated until they have been progressively actuated thru the proper dial in the manner described. Should a person, in attempting to open the safe, move any of the arms 5, 6 or 7 so as to bridge any pairs of contacts such as the contacts 57, 7 2 of dials A and B or the contacts 54 and 69 of dial C, the result would be that relay 29 will be short-circuited thru current passing from the wire 28 thru the wire 32 to arm 33, thru wire 68 to one of the contacts, for instance, 69, thence thru a contact 56 thru wire 53, to wire 51 and wire 59 to the opposite side of the relay 29 from its connection to the Wire 28.

The operation of the dash pot is such that the relay 26 gradually draws the arm 33 with its contact 34 toward the contact 36, with a result that as soon as these contacts 34 and 36 engage each other, the relay 29 is short-circuited and as this relay 29 is the initial relay in the dialing operation should the same become short-circuited, further actuation of the dials will be inefiective.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described -is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim 1. In a lock actuating apparatus, the combination with a movable locking member, electrical means for actuating said locking member, a plurality of relays arranged for progressive operation whereby said electrical means is energized to unlock said locking mechanism and a time controlled relay for rendering said first mentioned relays inoperative after a pre-determined interval of time.

2. In a device of the character described, a plurality of rotatable dials, each having a contact arm, contacts concentrically arranged about said dials and adapted to be engaged by said arms, a plurality of relays arranged for successive actuation when said arms are engaged with certain of said contacts and in proper sequence and a locking mechanism electrically connected to one of said relays.

3. In a device of the character described, an electrically actuated lock, means for conducting electric energy to said lock, said means including an electric circuit and a relay, a plurality of dials and a plurality of contacts therefor, each of said dials having a contact arm adapted to engage said contacts, electrical connections between certain of said contactsand said relay, whereby when said dials are moved to a pre-determined position, said relay will be actuated, a second relay electrically connected to other of said contacts of said dials, whereby when said dials aremoved to a second pre-determined position, said second main relay will be a ctuated, and a third relay, electricallyconnected to other of said dial contactsfwhereby when said dials are moved to a third position, said third relay will be actuated, said third relay being electrically connected to said electrically actuated lock, whereby when said third relay is actuated, said lock will be unlocked.

4. In a device of the character described, an electrically actuated lock, means for conducting electric energy to said lock, said means including an electric circuit and a relay, a plurality of dials and a plurality of contacts therefor, each of said dials having a contact arm adapted to engage said contacts, electrical connections between certain of said contacts and said relay, whereby when said dials are moved to a pre-determined position, M

said relay will be actuated, a second relay electrically connected to other of said contacts of said dials, whereby when said dials are moved to a second pre-determined position, said second main relay will be actuated, and a third relay, electrically connected to other of said dial contacts, whereby when said dials are moved to a third position, said third relay will be actuated, said third relay being electrically connected to said electrically actuated lock, whereby when said third relay is actuatd, said lock will be unlocked, and a time controlled relay in said electric circuit to render said first, second and third main relays inoperative after a pre-determined time interval.

5. In a device of the character described, an electrically actuated lock, means for conducting electric energy to said lock, said means including an electric circuit and a relay, a plurality of dials and a plurality of contacts therefor, each of said dials having a contact arm adapted to engage said contacts, electrical connections between certain of said contacts and said relay, whereby when said dials are moved to a pre-determined position, said relay will be actuated, a second relay electrically connected to other of said contacts of said dials, whereby when said dials are moved to a second pre-determined posi- 1y actuated lock, whereby when said third relay is actuated, said lock will be unlocked, and a time controlled relay in said electric circuit to render said first, second and third main relays inoperative after a pre-deterli qmm mineti interwaLeer-tain of said dialeentacts being-electrically eomlected to said cipcuit Jvhenebyjmhen engaged by any one of said a-rms allof said-relays will she-rendered inoperative; f I lnritesti-mony whereof We affix vour signatures, V 4

. PETER J. .ANSELMO.

HANS M. LESCHKE. 

